U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan Tests Positive For COVID-19

SARASOTA, FL — U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, who represents Florida’s 16th Congressional District, tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday.

The congressman has been fully vaccinated since earlier this year, according to a statement his office shared on Twitter.

Buchanan was tested after experiencing “very mild flu-like symptoms,” his office said. He’s quarantining at home in accordance with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

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“I look forward to returning to work as soon as possible,” he said. “In the meantime, this should serve as a reminder that although the vaccines provide a very high degree of protection, we must remain vigilant in the fight against COVID-19.”

Buchanan, a Longboat Key resident, represents portions of Sarasota, Manatee and Hillsborough counties.

The number of new COVID-19 cases have been increasing across the state in recent weeks. According to the Florida Department of Health’s most recent COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report for July 9-15, the new coronavirus case positivity rate was 13.7 percent in Hillsborough County, 12.6 percent in Manatee County and 8.6 percent in Sarasota County.

The COVID-19 vaccine is available for those 12 and older throughout the U.S. In Florida, 11.3 million people or 59 percent of those eligible have been vaccinated against the virus.

In Manatee County, nearly 205,000 people (57 percent of the eligible population) have been vaccinated. In Sarasota County, nearly 273,000 (68 percent of the eligible population) have been vaccinated. And in Hillsborough County, nearly 701,000 (54 percent of the population) have been vaccinated.